Different Uses of Industrial Surfactants

The versatility of industrial surfactants makes a wide variety of processes more efficient. They have a multitude of uses spread across different industry sectors where they play crucial roles to enable manufacturing processes or make them efficient.

Because of their unique properties, they are used as carriers or lubricants for processing materials. Besides, they have dispersing, emulsifying, mixing, and wetting abilities. Here are the different uses of industrial surfactants.

1. Metal processing – When it comes to different types of metal processing such as drilling, milling, or cutting, the tools need lubrication. That’s because they prevent the materials from heat resulting from friction. The coolants or cleaners required to perform the task depend on the surfactants. Moreover, surfactants act as a wetting agents in metal casting. Also, they are applied for hardening steel, anticorrosion agents, mold release agents, and so on.
2. Plastics – Manufacturing everyday plastics won’t be possible without the use of surfactants, which are used in both emulsion and suspension polymerization processes. When it comes to emulsion polymerization, industrial high foam surfactants help create an even monomer dispersion during polymer initialization. Whereas, in the case of suspension polymerization, the monomers that remain insoluble in water are kept suspended by using surfactants. Apart from that, surfactants play an important role in producing plastic foams used in sound and thermal insulation.
3. Paper and pulp industries – Industrial surfactants increase the absorbency and softness of paper that hold a critical position in terms of hygiene products like a paper tissue. Moreover, they keep the suction roller and screens used in producing paper clean. Also, they make sure that the manufacturing machinery runs smoothly without interruption.In addition, surfactants make sure that the printed ink is removed from the recycled waste paper and prepares it for reuse. Moreover, there is a constant demand for industrial surfactants to clean printing press rollers commonly used in the printing industry.
4. Food processing – Without adding surfactants, margarine can’t be produced. Therefore, surfactants that are suitable for use in foods and identical to the ones found in nature are used. Surfactants are used because the fat and water phase would eventually separate from each other without forming a stable emulsion. In short, ice cream won’t be creamy and smooth without surfactant emulsifiers.
5. Construction industry – Industrial surfactants are used as plasticizers in the production of fluid concrete. Besides, they act as agents in producing lightweight concrete. Being a mortar additive, surfactants assist in plastification and behave as stabilizers. Other industrial uses of surfactants include forming shuttering oil emulsions and producing foamed gypsum boards. Industrial surfactants are widely used in road construction for processing bitumen.
6. Leather – In terms of leather production, surfactants have an important role to play. They reduce the time required for the raw skins to soak while accelerating liming and deliming effects.When it comes to degreasing, surfactants remove undesirable natural fat while facilitating an even dyeing. On top of that, they soften leather permanently. Industrial surfactants are useful as emulsions to create a surface finish on the leather.
7. Petroleum industry – Modern-day engine oils wouldn’t be possible without ethoxylated surfactants. They help prevent the build-up of unwanted deposits on engine components that reduce performance and lead to wear.

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